Kite and similar aerial machine.



0. L- TWEEDALB. KITE AND 31mm: AERIAL momma. APILIOATIOH FILED OUT. 30, 1909.

992,086. I Patented May 9, 1911.

60117168863 In van for M fiffyaqw J p ZWXE/QMM.

lit

UNITED STATES arana? OFFICE.

CHARLES LAKEMAN TWEEDALE, 0F WESTON, NEAR OTLEY, ENGLAND.

KITE AND SIMILAR AERIAL MACHINE.

ooaoso.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1909. Serial No. 525,577.

box, kite. or to those composed of two pairs j o't superimposed planes, one pair at each end ol. a suitable rod or framework, on the principle of the biplane. It may also be applied to kites ot the monoplane type.

The object of my in\ ention is to assist the kite, or similar aerial machine, to rise up into the air, and to help to maintain and steady it in its (light when up in the air.

To enable my description to be the better understood l have attached drawings to this statement.

l igrure 1 shows my invention applied to a box kite with square or diamond shaped cells. Fig. 2 shows it; applied to a kite on the llarereave principle, but with triangular cells. Fig. 3 illustrates its application to a kite, or aerial machine, on the biplane principle. Fig. 4 shows the screw propeller and shaft with tho releasing device.

To attain the object of my invention 1 allix a suitably driven and released screw propeller to the kite, or similar aerial ma- -chinc, and l roof over the space between the front and rear cells, or sets of planes, n1akinr the upper surface ot. the cells, or the upper planes, one continuous surface.

The manner in which l carry out my invention is as follows: A. shaft '1 carrying a screw propeller S is allixed to the main rod or backbone (l of the kite, or aerial machine when this is central as in the llargreave, 01' box kite, or to a rod (1 which is secured to the cross braces, or other suitable portion ot' the kite or similar aerial machine in which there is no central rod or backbone, so that the propeller shaft lies centrally in the box or cell. or between the superimposed planes, the propeller thus working centrally within, or just in front ol, the mouth of the box or cell, or centrally between the sumo-imposed planes-. whcn the kite or acrialmachine is a biplaucfand thus being protected lrom contact with the ground in its revolutionsshould Patented May 9, 1911.

the kite or aerial machine come down to the gronn d.

The shaft T of the screw propeller works in suitable bearings H, H, secured to the rod (I. It carries the screw propeller S which can be made detachable for convenience of packing the kite, or aerial machine,

when of the knock down construction. The screw propeller and shaft may be rotated to raise the kite in the'air, and then set free to I be rotated by the wind when the kite is up 9 m the air, by any suitable mechanism. The manner in which I prefer to rotate the screw propeller and afterward set it free to be rotated by the wind is as follows. That portion of the shaft T lying between the bearings II II is broadened or spread out at the 11 point R, or a metal plate R may be soldered r or brazed to the shaft. Tn this a notch or slot N is out. TV which terminates in a knot 0r bead I, as

shown in Fig. 4.

the wind, the kite string, or cord, V is wound upon the propeller shaft T, lying between the bearings II It, until the space available is nearly tall. The cord or string W passes through a hole 0 in the lower rod E of the kite frame, as shown in Fig. 4, said hole or loop, as the case may be, being of such a size as not to allow of the passage of the bead P on the end of the kite string W.

Tn those kites or aerial machines constructed on the principle of the box or ll ar- L'l'(tl\'t kite with cells one at each end of a rod or framework. or on that known as the biplane principle with pairs of snperinv posed planes, one pair at each end of a suitable l'ramework, T root over the space K l \'in; between the front and rear cells A and l; or between the trout and rear pairs ol planes and ll (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) thus nmking the upper surface. of the cells or the. two upper planes one. continuous Silll'acc. while leaving the openings underneath at X for the admission ot air currents. This root' increases the buoyancy of the box kite, biplane. or similar aerial machine, and causes it to be more strongly supported by its upper surface than by the lower surface thuskeeping the upper surt'ace uppermost in the air. and steadying said box kite, biplane. or similar aerial machine, in its llight.

'lo tly the kite. or aerial machine the knot or head I on the end of the kite string or cord V is placed in the notch or slot N on ()n turning the screw Y propeller, or holding it the reverse way/co '75 This slot takes the kite string the propeller shaft T and the string is then wound upon the shaft by turning it to the right until the space on the shaft between the bearings H H is nearly full of the cord or spring. The kite is now held up to the wmr.

string is unwound from the shaft and passes through the hole 0, in the lower rod E, or the loop 0, as the case may be. The kite goes up with a rush and a whirring sound as the screw propeller revolves. By the time the string coiled upon the shaft T isthrough and concentrated by the kite cells,

or planes, adding to the buoyancy and steadiness of the kite in its flight in the air.

In my invention as appliedto cellular kites or biplanes, the screw propeller is protected from contact with the ground should The pull on the string instantly causes the screw propeller to revolve as the the kite come down and be dragged or rolled over, by the string or the win 7 Having now particularly'descrlbed my invention and the manner in whlch 1t may be carried into effect I declare that What 'I.

claim is "he improved box kite having the space between the front and rear cells roofed over, said box kite fitted with a screw propeller placed centrally in the front cell and having its shaft, or axis, parallel with the main axis of the box kite, said propeller shaft rotated by said propeller shaft fitted with a slotted plate forming part of, or attached to, the shaft, said string furnished at the extremity with a bead engaging with the slotted plate, said string passing through a. hole in the frame of the boX kite of such atsize as not to permit of the passage of the bead, all substantially as herein illustrated and described. 2

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES LAKEMAN TWEEDALE. WVitnesses \VILLIAM REEVES, CHARLES E, TAYLOR.

means of a string coiled thereon, 

